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Fodera really worth the cost?

#161
I have a Monarch and a NYC Empire Bass.. both 4 string basses. Absolutely amazing instruments. The Empire is an early model build from the Brooklyn shop.. not an import.
Luckily for me purchased both of them used and saved major $$$.
I did have them build me a 5 string but it was too heavy and I sold it.
If you can afford to have one built do it. It was a great experience for me and if the bass was lighter I would have kept it.
 
#162
" _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ really worth the cost?" (A fill-in-the-blank provided for the brand in question this time, or every other time this question comes up, with numbing regularity.)

Only if you're willing to step up, put your money down, and take it with you. In other words, it's only worth it if it's worth it TO YOU.
 
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#165
As I have stated before I have owned a new Fodera, and have no problem with the costs.

However, apparently a reason why they are expensive (and acknowledged by Fodera) is that they are located in New York.

If I travel to New York, do I pay more dollars for let’s say a slice of pizza, a Hugo Boss suit or a Ford Mustang - compared to..I don’t know..San Diego or New Orleans?

And how much of a difference if the company and all the employers were located in San Louis Obispa.. for arguments sake ;-)

Just curious.
 
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#167
MD Stingray said:
As I have stated before I have owned a new Fodera, and have no problem with the costs.

However, apparently a reason why they are expensive (and acknowledged by Fodera) is that they are located in New York.

If I travel to New York, do I pay more dollars for let’s say a slice of pizza, a Hugo Boss suit or a Ford Mustang - compared to..I don’t know..San Diego or New Orleans?

And how much of a difference if the company and all the employers were located in San Louis Obispa.. for arguments sake ;-)

Just curious.
Click to expand...

Well you might find a used fodera, or their fender take off on 48th street. Some real good pizza places around there. But I don't think the prices reflect NY. Remember they are hand made and they look beautiful. In the looks department they really stand out... They also are somewhat in the cutting edge as far as sound. The way the neck meets the body on many of their model was in some ways revolutionary as no one as doing that. Now you have many many companies doing the same thing. Maybe they were not the first 6 string bass maker but really the first that did it right. Vinny Fodera is a great guy and really the main innovator of that company. So are they worth it.... Many Great Players have thought so.
 
#168
Bassist30 said:
Vinny Fodera is a great guy and really the main innovator of that company. So are they worth it.... Many Great Players have thought so.
Click to expand...

I politely say you are not getting my point,maybe my English is not all that, sorry :).

I have no problem with the costs at all.
I am just curious how much a 10K NY Fodera would cost if it was a (insert any city) Fodera.
 
#169
Each to his own, inho.
Bas(s)ically... To me, it would be too much and I would be afraid to actually use it on stage. Besides looking a bit awkward when playing it in my metalband it would look out of place.
 
#170
CNC machines can churn out a bass very quickly to a fair standard, slap a thick coat of Poly on it and buff it up and everyone's happy, a nice bass for a fraction of the cost of something similar from a few years back.

Boutique basses are a different animal, they are largely hand made, wood selected carefully, grain matched, cut, glued blah blah until in the end old Fred has made a bass. Now that bass costs 10 times more than the CNC made one but isn't even twice as good in the big scheme of things. The details are there though, carefully sanded edges, the nut properly made and fitted, all the things that add up to pride of ownership which you've just bought into.

The difference between the standard bass and the custom one? Despite what you think there is very little other than a little shaping which only adds up to a few hours extra work and some hardware costs maybe.

Anyway, all that work takes time and time costs any business, whether or not it's worth it only the OP can decide as he was the one who bought the things. My own feelings are that if the question had to be asked then perhaps the Squire would have been just as good to the OP
 
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#172
It’s amazing to me, as someone new here, how rude and snarky some people are to others asking a question. So what if it has been asked in the past, maybe he’s asking the question because he’s heard things hyped up and something isn’t jiving for him. Sometimes it’s just nice to get opinions from others, even if they don’t necessarily fall inline with your own thoughts. There comes a point when the old phrase if you haven’t got anything nice (or constructive) to say about something, maybe it’s more thoughtful to say nothing.

Anyway, OP, I understand your feelings. I like it to any “luxury” purchase. For me, some of those take good time for me to gather my real feelings. There have been times when I’ve felt underwhelmed by something everyone else thought was marvelous. Regardless of technical or artistic merit, there’s a personal aspect involved that sometimes can’t be conveyed. But asking for what others feel, see, think, and hear is a good way to help gather your own thoughts.

My husband has a custom built instrument made by a luthier that was well known as the ultimate maker of those instruments. He got on a very long waiting list and spent a great many thousands of dollars on it. It is an outstanding piece of work. There are little details that set it apart, even from other custom made pieces. It’s a work of art. But, it never set his heart afire the way another he owns did. In all technical and quality aspects it’s outstanding but it just leaves him a bit cold. Maybe that’s what’s happening to you with Fodera right now.
 
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#173
I'd say they worth the cost...because if they don't, Fodera would no longer exist.

The thing is that, maybe you thought they were the best basses in the world because they cost $11,000 but they are no for you. My previous bass teacher had a NYC Sadowsky. Ok, I don't really know the model. It cost $3,000 and it was a jazz bass copy. I played with it in a couple of jams. I still prefer my Fender Classic 60s Jazz Bass which cost me around 1,000 bucks. The Sadowsky can be a better bass, but it was not for me. I prefered my jazz bass.
 
#176
57pbass said:
I have a Monarch and a NYC Empire Bass.. both 4 string basses. Absolutely amazing instruments. The Empire is an early model build from the Brooklyn shop.. not an import.
Luckily for me purchased both of them used and saved major $$$.
I did have them build me a 5 string but it was too heavy and I sold it.
If you can afford to have one built do it. It was a great experience for me and if the bass was lighter I would have kept it.
Click to expand...

You can not select light-weight bodies at Fodera?
 
#179
Anything is worth as much as you're willing to pay but if I know anything, it isn't right to NEED one in so many levels. I like expensive things as much as anyone but there's got to be a limit for what they are. It's a guitar and it won't gain crazy value like a Stradivarius violin. Personal opinion of course.
 
#180
Living in the UK...Fodera doesn't have any reputation as it does stateside. So I look at the price and I really can't equate it's value considering the parts bin approach to their construction and materials. They kind of look old fashioned and very dated with out using any specific hardware that stands them out from generic bass builders. Take something like a Wal. A UKP price of circa £5K. It features unique pickups which stand alone, it has a unique approach to it's preamp. Even the string tree is unique for Wal and can't be sourced else where. With Fodera...I can buy all their hardware and make a pretty convincing clone for well under 1/10th of the cost...so why bother?
Am I missing some magic somewhere?
 
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